Sunday, June 26, 2016

Happy Summer all! As you've probably surmised by now, Nick and I are both pretty big foodies. We love exploring new restaurants, and have somewhat of a tradition of seeking out fun, unique restaurants for each other's birthdays. Not too long ago it was Nick's birthday, so I surprised him with dinner at Townsman! Since Townsman was recently named one of ten restaurants of the year by Food and Wine Magazine, we were excited to see what all the hype was all about!

Matt Jennings' Townsman is situated in Downtown Boston near Chinatown and the Greenway. It has outdoor patio seating (yes! mental note made to come back when it's more warm out), red accent seating, fun planetary light fixtures, and a drool-worthy menu which focuses on sustainability and local sourcing.

Loved the trendy ambiance! This is definitely a local spot, with a mix of suits from nearby offices grabbing a good meal after work, along with casual diners like us.

Digging the back of the menu design.

Townsman's trendy, modern take on complimentary bread and butter. I was obsessed with this - how cute is that tin can?

I mentioned that I was gluten free and they actually managed to bring out delicious, life-giving cornbread to accommodate!

Most waiters and restaurants start sputtering when I bring this up, and I don't blame them - it's tough to work around no gluten, which means no wheat or flour! So I get it. But at the same time, if anyone should be prepared for this, it should be modern restaurants, right? I was super impressed by their service and dedication to taking care of the customer's needs before we even asked.

We started with the lightest and brightest deviled eggs ever! These were different than any deviled eggs than we've tried before - usually it's just the hard boiled egg white cut in half and filled with the yolk/mayo/mustard/etc. At Townsman, the eggs were coated in the mixture, in addition to fried capers, clay pepper and crispy hen skin. The plate proved to be very refreshing and comforting, and at the end of the meal we were still raving about it!

Next we noshed on the Octopus a la Plancha, with plantains, mole, and citrus. I'd only ever enjoyed octopus with sushi in the past, and having a huge tentacle was an entirely new experience! It was rubbery and dense but not too tough, and the light citrus flavor offered a great contrast to the smokey octopus and it's texture.

We were honored to try a dish not even on the menu! This arctic char skin and smoked cream cheese was another plate that was so different than anything I've tried before. The char skin was salty and crispy, and reminded me of a fun seaweed snack. We broke it up like chips to scoop the sour cream. This is the perfect example of why dining at Townsman is so fun - you never know what new textures or flavors you'll be trying next!

As someone who loves oysters and seafood, these were an amazing stray from the traditional raw variety. These chicharron oysters were a heaven-sent melding of ocean and earthy flavors, adding a crunch and almost BBQ flavor to the oysters. Even if you're not an oyster fan you can appreciate these!

If you can believe it, we actually still had room for entrees after all that (but not much)! Also, how cool are these plates?

I am a duck fiend, so naturally I ordered the Hudson Valley Duck Breast, with giblet jus, apricots, snow peas and chickpeas. The waiter told me the usual duck order is medium-rare, but I chickened out and ordered it medium. It was still very juicy and flavorful, but a little on the tough side, which is totally my fault for not ordering it the correct way! This is a lesson to listen to your waiter people!

In all seriousness, this plate was really delicious. The bright, citrus-y apricots were a great contrast to the duck, and who doesn't love a good snow pea? The dish normally comes with a cornmeal pancake in place of the chickpeas, but they again were super accommodating to make the plate gluten-free without us even asking.

Nick ordered the Grilled Whole Fish of the day (trout in our case), with sea lettuce relish, chickpeas, and swiss chard. He fully enjoyed his plate as well, obviously!

We topped off this glorious feast with yet another inventive item - this Candy Cap Ice Cream! This dish had multiple levels of flavors, including sweet, tart, earthy and maple. I'm currently obsessed with it and need to go back asap for more!

I can honestly say that since going gluten free, this is the most I've felt taken care of by a restaurant! Complimentary cornbread to start off a meal is the best a gal could ever hope for, and to constantly alter the menu and tell me ahead of time which items to order without gluten is going above and beyond.

Also, do I even need to say more on the innovative menu options? It's not your traditional dining spot - come here with an adventurous spirit and an empty belly, and you won't regret it.

From our friendly hostess and waiter, to the exciting menu, it will be truly hard to top Townsman's level of service and innovative, super unique menu!

Be sure to check out more Boston restaurant reviews, including my recent review of Gaslight in the South End, and my Boston ABC Dining project!

Monday, June 20, 2016

Long, long ago I was a Blue Bottle barista. One day on the job, I got out a roll of quarters and bopped it on the edge of the counter to get it open. The manager came over in a frenzy and said "Stop, stop! Do you know how much this marble countertop cost?" I said nope, and he told me they shelled out $10,000 for it.

These days, the flatlay is a crucial part of blogging and curating a flawless Instagram feed. From makeup, to clothes, recipes, and jewelry, this type of post is meant to showcase your products in a spectacular birds-eye view. Some choose to stage their flatlays on a white shaggy rug (see below), but many opt for the modern and sleek look of a marble backdrop.

I don't know about you, but I'm not shelling out 10 big ones for a flatlay background. My blog sponsorships are just not quite there yet! Our apartment actually has marble but it's the wrong kind - a dark gray. Everyone knows that social media favors light, bright backgrounds! Luckily, I recently found an affordable and easy way around this, and I figure some of you may be interested in the process!

Marble Flatlay Materials Needed

Marble Adhesive - I bought this one on Amazon Prime for $16.99 and I'm way beyond satisfied with how the photos turned out (see finished product below). It is also very easy to work with, as it can be unpeeled from the board if stuck to the wrong place, but still sticky enough to get the job done. There was a ton of adhesive left over to add to a side table or desk too! I'm still deciding where to put it.

Foam Board - Pretty much any decently-sized board will do, but I went with a 16 x 20 inch board similar to this one from Blick's.

Saturday, June 18, 2016

Summer is finally in the air, and I don't know about you, but I've got dresses, hats, bags and shoes on the mind! These are at the tippy top of my summer must-have list, for obvious reasons. Take a browse and see what catches your eye - plus, the price is right with these pieces!

This fun dress is not only neon pink, but it has ruffles AND it's off-the-shoulder? So on trend, count me in!

Straw hats are trending, not to mention they protect the top of your head from getting burnt at the beach! This one is less than $8 and has a bow on it so it's automatically ten times cuter than other hats out there!

Hope you liked these pieces and that they inspire you to treat yourself this summer!

Comment Challenge: Which of these pieces would you love to add to your summer wardrobe?

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Friday, June 17, 2016

*Note: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting those who support Chow Down USA!

What does it mean to be a grownup? Are you automatically a part of the adult club once you turn a certain age, or maybe once you graduate college? I think it's different for everyone. One of my most substantial "grown-up" experiences was moving across the country via an epic roadtrip!

Stepping into the Mississippi River

Many of you know that I was born and raised in San Francisco, and three years ago we drove cross-country to move to Boston! Along the way, we saw gorgeous lands, waters, and skies, and came across some delicious and unique meals. I thought driving 3,000+ miles with a car full of luggage would be the longest week of my life, but it turned out to be the shortest week of my life. Each day we drove through new terrain, filled with new experiences. One day we were hiking in Utah's serene Zion National Park, and a couple days later we were in bustling downtown Chicago. It was such an adventure!

Visting the Bean in Chicago

But perhaps the real experience began after that legendary roadtrip. Once the dust settled and we started our jobs in Boston, I started to really feel like an adult. I was independent, my friends and family were thousands of miles away, and I was taking care of myself. I found an apartment, got a job, and continued working on my blog. Even little things like getting groceries, cooking, and cleaning the house hit home - if I didn't do these things, no one else was doing them; they just wouldn't get done!

Steering the duck boat of adult life in Boston

It felt great to be able to support myself and navigate the waters that are adult responsibility: arguing with Comcast, chipping away at student loans, paying rent, while still finding time and a budget to take fun trips to the Cape and get some retail therapy in.

I was thriving in my new city, but I had plenty of questions. I wanted to know about budgeting my money long-term, saving for retirement, choosing the right credit cards, and other crucial aspects of being an adult that they don't teach you in school. I've often discussed with friends that these things should really be on the curriculum, at least as an elective (why can I choose to take ceramics, but finance and budgeting are off the table)?

Enter Society of Grownups, a company that seamlessly melds financial education with laid-back, local classes and events. They somehow manage to unpretentiously teach everything from student debt, to investing, to the role of money in relationships.

I was lucky enough to attend a few classes at a nearby Society of Grownups branch. My recent class with Certified Financial Planner Tyler was so casual yet informative - and isn't that really the best combination? The theme of the class was "You're A Grownup, Don't Panic," and offered a high-level overview of financial planning, including tips to getting a good credit score, how to strategize the best retirement plan, and general best practices for budgeting.

The main takeaway I had from the class was that everyone has different goals in life, and thus you have to find the best financial plan for what your goals are. Someone who wants to travel the world will have a different plan from someone who wants to buy a house soon, for example. It's important to sit down and really think about your goals and financial values before setting up a financial plan, so that's what I intend to do in the coming weeks. I'll keep you all posted on that!

I'm truly excited about Society of Grownups. They made my transition to adulthood and moving across the country so much easier by giving me financial education and confidence in my future! I believe we need more classes and events like this across the country, from San Francisco to Boston. Plus, any company whose motto is "You're a grownup - don't panic," is fine by me!

Comment Challenge: What was the first time you really felt like an official grownup?

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

*Note: This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting those who support Chow Down USA!

Wedding season is in full swing - in fact, one of my best friends back home in SF just got engaged! It feels so surreal, since we've been friends since middle school!

Putting on a wedding takes so much work, including picking out classic, tasteful bridesmaid dresses for the wedding party!

Enter Azazie. This brand honestly has the most incredible, intricate and high quality dresses. You send them your measurements and they literally tailor the dress to you, and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg! I've seen pom pom sandals that go for more than these dresses. You couldn't ask for better pieces for your special day! Plus, the brand name is just really fun to say!

Wristlet: Fossil

I ordered the Azazie Rochelle in coral, and I couldn't be more obsessed! I ordered it in coral, but there are 45 other colors it comes in as well. That wasn't a typo - they have every color imaginable! It's a floor-length A-line/princess bridesmaid dress made with glamorous chiffon and lace. I adore the one shoulder neckline, and the intricate detail on the top half of the dress which wraps around to the back.

The bottom half is whole other dreamy story. With multiple layers to swish and swirl around, there's no way around it - you'll feel like a princess for sure. Its flawless and subtle pleats add to the ethereal look. I accessorized with a gold wristlet and jewelry, but the dress certainly steals the show!

Earrings: Shop Jami

Needless to say, I'm blown away by Azazie and could not recommend them enough. One thing to know is that since the dresses are each custom made, production time averages about 5-6 weeks. If you can wait that long, I think it's a small price to pay for such high quality pieces!

I also just noticed on their website that they're having a flash sale for anyone interested! These sample dresses are just $35 (!!), so if they have your size I would jump on it! I'm not getting commission from these sales, I just honestly love their dresses and think this is an amazing deal!

P.S. Wondering why my images are suddenly so professional? For this post I collaborated with Nick Cosky, a local photographer in the Boston area. He's amazing to work with and has so many incredible images of Boston, definitely check out his work! Use code chowdownusa for 10% off all purchases!

Comment Challenge: What's your ideal bridesmaid dress design?

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Monday, June 13, 2016

Some of you may remember the ABC Dining in San Francisco which kicked off this whole blog 3 years ago! I completed all 26 letters and restaurants back in SF, and I'm determined to do the same in Boston! I was stuck on the letter G for the longest time, but we finally went to Gaslight Brasserie du Coin for brunch this weekend so I'm back on track!

Aside from continuing my Boston ABC Dining, we were both so glad we finally dined at Gaslight in the South End! First of all, we need to talk about how cute the ambiance and interior is at this French Brasserie! There's a classic, vintage feel that's very comfortable to dine in, from the wood seats to the tiled walls, ceilings, and floors. Maybe I've been watching too much Boardwalk Empire lately, but it reminded me of a place gangsters would eat, in the coolest way possible.

The food itself at Gaslight is crazytown. It was one of those meals where we both just kept talking about how blown away we were! The prices were shockingly reasonable too - less than $20 each for fab food, great atmosphere and great service. Our waiter chatted with us when he found out we were also from California, gave us an update on our order and it's queue in the kitchen, and was knowledgeable about gluten free options when I inquired about them. Plus, our waters were always filled to the brim no matter how hard we tried to drink it all!

I ordered the Berkshire Pork Hache - best decision ever made. It came with confit pork, crispy potatoes, chili sauce verte, and two fried eggs, AKA protein central! The ingredients came out in patty form, cooked to perfection and filled with flavor. I scarfed it down in about 10 seconds.

This may not be a Pinterest or Instagram worthy shot, but I wanted to show the consistency and patty-like texture of the meal! It was soft enough that no knife was necessary.

For even more flavor, the Poached Eggs a la Bearnaise is an excellent choice. With sauteed kale, caramelized onions, and plenty of garlic, this egg dish is one to savor and enjoy!

In case it wasn't clear enough, I can't recommend Gaslight enough! Amazing food, great service, and fun atmosphere. What more could a diner want in a meal? There's also outdoor seating which looked inviting for the hotter summer months.